A259 Hove to Portslade Active Travel Scheme

Why here?

The A259 is one of the key areas of the city identified for active travel improvements by the our Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). It’s also part of the National Cycle Network (NCN route 2). Currently, there is no cycle route west of Hove Lagoon to the city’s western boundary.

It’s a popular route for commuters, residents and visitors who enjoy cycling alongside our beautiful and vibrant seafront to local shops, businesses and attractions.

How is it being paid for?

We were awarded £4.3 million of funding by Active Travel England to make improvements along the road to support active travel. £2.7 million has also been allocated from the council’s Local Transport Plan funding (spread over 3 years).

Couldn’t the money be used on things like fixing potholes?

No, the Active Travel England funding has been awarded for active travel improvements in this part of the city only. However, building the scheme will mean much of this stretch of road will be resurfaced.

Why are you removing a traffic lane?

One westbound traffic lane will be removed between Fourth Avenue and Hove Street to allow space for widened pavements, the cycle lane and parking and loading spaces.

The costs to remove the centre island to retain 2 lanes in each direction would be high and when traffic data and vehicle movements were analysed, it showed this option would not provide good value for money.

The highest hourly westbound traffic flow recorded in the past decade, within the project area, is 1,103 vehicles. Removing one westbound lane will still provide capacity of 1,620 vehicles per hour.

In addition, the inside lane between Fourth Avenue and Hove Street is less well used because 80% of vehicles continue forward in the lane they have been travelling in from West Street (where the vehicle lanes reduce from 2 to 1).

Will there be any changes to parking?

In some locations the amount of parking will remain the same but moved next to the cycle lane (separated by a kerb). Overall we will be installing:

• an additional 12 disabled bays
• 6 more loading bays
• 4 new electric vehicle charging bays

Will you be removing any parking spaces?

We've tried to retain the parking spaces along the length of the route and where we are making changes to the road layout. This has even enabled additional parking spaces to be found.

However, due to road width restrictions, we'll be removing some under-used parking along the south side of the A259 between Hove Lagoon and Boundary Road.

The removed spaces consist of time-limited free parking (24 car spaces) and Permit Holder Zone ‘L’ spaces (21). We have managed to retain parking where it is most used along this stretch, outside businesses and near Hove Lagoon.

How will you facilitate deliveries to shops in the area?

Delivery vehicles servicing the parade of shops near the King Alfred Centre often double park preventing both vehicle lanes from being used.

This has been addressed in the new designs with the provision of 5 additional loading bays alongside the 1 already in place.

Loading bays have also been provided for the businesses nearer Boundary Road, where Ocean Sports and Pets Corner are located.

What’s wrong with the section of cycle lane already there?

Moving the cycle lane away from the Hove Beach Park entrances will make it much safer for pedestrians to move around and access these facilities.

Also, new national design standards for cycling were released in July 2020 which raises the standards for cycle lanes, including the use of protection to ensure cyclists are safe from vehicles on busy routes. The new cycle lane would provide a barrier away from pedestrians and motor vehicles.

Will this impact businesses in Shoreham Port? 

No, the designs take into account the need for a variety of large vehicles (including abnormal loads) to move along the A259 and manoeuvre through the junctions.

Why are you moving bus stops?

Bus stops along the whole route have been reviewed and where appropriate, relocated to better suit user access to amenities, ensure they are properly spaced out and, in some cases, to allow the space for vehicles to overtake when a bus is stationary.

Why are you proposing to use floating bus stops?

A bus stop bypass, also known as a floating bus stop or bus island, is a design where a cycle lane is routed behind the bus passenger boarding area to maintain separation from motor traffic. This design aims to improve safety by minimising conflicts between cyclists, buses and vehicles. 

This scheme provides a flat, straight, wide and open stretch of road and provides good visibility for pedestrians using the bus stop and cyclists.

We’ll also be installing the following at the bus stop locations:

• zebra crossings across the cycle lane
• tactile paving at these crossing points
• raising the cycle lane at pedestrian crossing points
• islands to get on and off the bus
• other signage and markings to slow cyclists

Why is there a left turn ban into Hove Street South?

Different options were explored and modelled for the Hove Street South junction. This option was the safest for cyclists and pedestrians to navigate while minimising congestion for other road users.

Our surveys found of the 8,500 to 12,000 which travel westbound at this junction a day, only around 200 turn left into Hove Street South.

Vehicles will still be able to access the Hove Street South and King Alfred Leisure Centre southbound and eastbound.

Why is there a shared use section between Boundary Road Junction and Church Road Junction?

Due to the space available, we're unable to safely install a separated cycle lane and retain the pavement and road widths required in this area.. A widened, shared pedestrian and cycle space will be nearly double the current pavement width.

Surveys and monitoring have shown footfall is very low in this section and that around 100 cyclists a day are using the pavement.

Why is the cycle lane only one way from the Church Road junction into West Sussex?

The section of cycle lane from the Church Road junction to scheme boundary in West Sussex will be built to allow cyclists to travel in both directions. However, to ensure the eastbound cyclists are not being encouraged to join at a point that risks their safety, the decision has been made to make this section westbound only for now.

This would then be updated as and when West Sussex County Council build its proposed cycle lane in the future.

Eastbound cyclists will instead be directed to use the north-south push button crossing at the Church Road junction to join the cycle lane.

When would work start and finish?

Work would be scheduled to begin in spring 2026 and is expected take around 18 months to complete.